Nikkei

As Japan's stock market posts a 33-year high, optimists point to the underlying robustness of firms' earnings but pessimists are wary of potential policy change.

Asian share markets turned hesitant on Monday as investors fretted about the economic fallout from fresh COVID-19 restrictions in China, while bonds and the dollar braced for more updates on U.S.

The steadier market mood has seen the safe-haven dollar and yen decline, while the euro was boosted by hawkish comments from European Central Bank (ECB) officials who have been flagging a rate hike as early as July.

Markets have sold off sharply this year on growing worries about an economic slowdown due to aggressive Fed policy moves aimed at reining in surging prices.

Early surveys of European and U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers for May are due out later on Tuesday and could show some slowing in what has been a resilient sector of the global economy.

British inflation surged to its highest annual rate since 1982 as energy bills soared, while Canadian inflation rose to 6.8% last month, largely driven by rising food and shelter prices.

In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin was last up 5.1% at $31,277, having touched its lowest since December 2020 last week

Across Asia, share indexes were a sea of red. The Nikkei lost 0.9%, Australian shares shed 2.5% and Korean stocks lost 2%.

Core inflation is actually seen rising by 0.4% in April, up from 0.3% the previous month, even as the annual pace dips a bit due to base effects.

The head of the World Health Organization's European branch said new widespread lockdowns would not be needed.

Uncertainty over the stimulus, rising US infections and the Fed's massive bond-buying has hurt the dollar.

Worries about second-wave states appear now to be last week's news.

Oil prices dipped after a healthy advance on Friday.

The lingering optimism provided support to higher-yielding, riskier currencies.

Adding to the broadly positive outlook is optimism about progress on a vaccine.

Analysts warned of further gyrations as the outbreak shows no sign of abating, with more than 100,000 people infected in 99 countries.

Asian investors are also watching for key policy announcements early in the New Year.

Stocks took their lead from a mixed finish to a quiet week on US trading floors after the Dow edged to a fresh record on Friday.

Apple's stock is backtracking from its recent highs amid mounting concerns that iPhone X sales will fall short of the high hopes previously assumed.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rises 0.2% to 19,902.58 points.

Oil prices rise after Saudi Arabia and Russia say they will extend crude production cuts until March 2018.

Nikkei 225 share average down by 0.4% at 19,890.77 points.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 benchmark index rises 0.3% to 19,959.97 points.

Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark rises 0.4% to 19,281 points.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 share average advances 0.8% to 18.576.24 points at mid-day.

Nikkei, Shanghai Composite and Sensex hover dangerously close to a 1% decline.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 share average down 0.1% at 19,186.10 points at mid-day.

Tokyo's Nikkei index falls 0.3% to 19,545.21 points.

Shares rose when Trump came in but firms are now weighing up his less business-friendly legislation.

Nikkei 225 benchmark index advances 1.6% to 19,355.93 points at mid-day.